"10 Franc" flashlight mod

[crashandburn]

My first larger flashlight mod, 3.7 volt only, recessed radio shack switch sidemounted, UV LED, (pointing directly at my face... UVA, but still makes me nervous) connector and LED topmounted in a 10 Franc coin. Anyone else use a UV LED? Worried about sunburned lips?

 

[TomCatt]

Cool mod Crash. Really like the use of the coin.

Not sure about the UV led

ETA: After a quick Google on UV LEDs, this was the only thing I found about cautions:

"
Ultraviolet LEDs

Ultraviolet light is divided into three bands: UV-A, which is fairly innocuous; UV-B, which causes sunburns; and UV-C, which kills things. Most UV-B and all UV-C from the sun is filtered out by the ozone layer, so we get very little of it naturally. LEDs emit UV-A.
400 nm is a pretty common wavelength for UV LEDs. This is right on the border between the violet and ultraviolet, so a significant portion of the light emitted is visible. For this reason 400 nm UV LEDs are sometimes rated in millicandela, even though as much as half of their energy is invisible. LEDs with lower wavelengths, such as 380nm, are usually not rated in millicandela, but in milliwatts.
DO NOT STARE INTO AN ULTRAVIOLET LED.



"

 

[EDDIE D]

nice mod, what is a uv led? is that like a black light that makes white t-shirts glow like in the clubs? funny as sheet 'cause when you're vaping it'd glow your eyes all freaky...

 

[crashandburn]

Thanks TomCatt! if ya ever grind the edge of a coin, wear safety glasses Man are they brittle!
Heres what worried me:
Wikipedia,
In the past, UVA was considered less harmful, but today it is known it can contribute to skin cancer via indirect DNA damage (free radicals and reactive oxygen species). It penetrates deeply, but it does not cause sunburn. UVA does not damage DNA directly like UVB and UVC, but it can generate highly reactive chemical intermediates, such as hydroxyl and oxygen radicals, which in turn can damage DNA.[citation needed] Because it does not cause reddening of the skin (erythema), it cannot be measured in SPF testing.[citation needed] There is no good clinical measurement for blockage of UVA radiation, but it is important for sunscreen to block both UVA and UVB. Some scientists blame the absence of UVA filters in sunscreens for the higher melanoma risk found for sunscreen users.

Hmm... i think i need to edit my first post .... I swear i seen somewhere it said it did cause reddening... I still like my upper lip tho There's a couple of websites where they say that after the first couple of weeks the UV output drops, and the UV output doesn't last very long. For now I cover it with my pointer finger (I think i could lose that one) Now granted, this is the same type of LED in childrens invisible ink pens... So I'm feelin like a Sally.

Eddie i have used this to find organic matter, (don't ask) and it does fluoresce test strips in dollars, and teeth, I haven't however shined it into my eyes lol